35 charges after guns, hunting equipment seized, native lizards recovered near Holbrook

A man has been charged with 35 offences, following a search of a rural property in the state’s south.

About 6.45am on Wednesday (1 May 2024), officers attached to the Murray River Police District Rural Crime Prevention Team, with assistance from Riverina Police District Rural Crime Prevention team executed a search warrant at a rural property at Humula, about 60km south-west of Holbrook.

Police seized three trail bikes, three firearms and ammunition, a luxury watch, a chainsaw, hedge cutter, lawn mover, RMS road signs, number plates and a bogie trailer, alleged to have been stolen.

National Parks and Wildlife Services assisted with the seizure of four shingleback blue tongue lizards after checks revealed the man did not hold the appropriate licence.

Drugs including cannabis and methamphetamine were also seized, along with hunting equipment including tracking collars, breast plates, hunting knives and a GPS handheld tracking modules were seized for further examination.

A 25-year-old man was arrested and taken to Holbrook Police Station.

He was charged with 35 offences

– possess unauthorised firearm (three counts)

– possess shortened firearm (not pistol) w/o authority

– use, supply, acquire or possess defaced firearm (two counts)

– use, supply etc stolen firearm or firearm part

– acquire firearm no licence/permit-not pistol/prohibited firearm (three counts)

– acquire ammunition for firearm without licence/permit (three counts)

– not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm (three counts)

– possess ammunition w/o holding licence/permit/authority (three counts)

– deal in or attempt to deal in protected animal (four counts)

– aggravated entry of agricultural land

– destroy/damage property in company

– larceny

– enter private land to hunt animal w/o owner consent

– hunt game animal on private/public land w/o license

– possess prohibited drug (two counts)

– carry unrestrained dog on back of moving vehicle on street (5 counts)

He appeared in Wagga Wagga Local Court yesterday (Thursday 2 May 2024), and refused bail to reappear in the same court on Tuesday 14 May 2024.

Investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

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